Infant Feeding: Breast or Bottle?

You are a new mother or are anticipating the birth of your child. As you prepare for your baby's arrival, there may be many questions you may have. One might be: Should I breastfeed?

Here are some points to consider when deciding to breastfeed or bottle-feed.

Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Baby

Proper nourishment—Breast milk contains almost all of the
nourishment that babies need during their first 6 months of
life.
However,
vitamin D
supplementation is needed because breast milk is low in this vitamin. Supplementation with vitamin D will need to be continued until your baby is getting enough vitamin D from other sources, such as vitamin D-fortified formula or sun. Starting at age 4 months, your baby will also need an
iron
supplement until he or she starts getting enough iron from food sources, like infant cereal. If your baby is
premature, he or she will likely need to take iron starting at 1 month.

Immunity boost—Breast milk contains substances not found in formula that help
protect babies from illness. These substances include antibodies, immunoglobulins, active
enzymes, and hormones.

Fewer illnesses—Compared with bottlefed infants,
breastfed infants are less likely to develop:

Both parents will likely appreciate the convenience of
breastfeeding, including:

Breast milk is available, sterile, and free.

There is no formula to buy, measure, and mix.

There are no bottles and nipples to sterilize.

Drawbacks of Breastfeeding

Stress for mom—You are the sole provider
of nutrition for your baby, which can be very demanding and
exhausting. However, once a pattern is established, other family
members can give you a break by feeding the baby a bottle of breast
milk that has been pumped and stored in the refrigerator or
freezer.

Slow start—You may have difficulty getting the baby
to properly latch onto the breast.

Possible pain—Breastfeeding can be painful. You may have sore
nipples, clogged milk ducts,
and
mastitis
(breast pain).

Medicine precautions—Some medicines can pass through the breast milk to your baby and may not be safe. Drugs can also interfere with how much milk you produce. Talk to you healthcare provider before taking prescription and over-the-counter medicine, as well as herbs and supplements.

If you are unsure as to whether you want to breastfeed, you can
try it for a few weeks and switch if it does not work out. Any
amount of breastfeeding is beneficial for the baby. Once bottlefeeding is started, though, it is difficult to switch back to the
breast.

The Benefits of Bottlefeeding

Proper nutrition—Commercially prepared formulas (which
are regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration) supply the appropriate combinations of
proteins, sugars, fats, and vitamins to meet a baby's nutritional
requirements; supplements are not usually necessary. But, if your baby is not eating enough vitamin D fortified formula, a supplement may be needed.

Bonding—Although there is no skin-to-skin contact,
cuddling while feeding can enhance bonding.

Less dependence on you—Anyone can feed the baby. This makes it easier if you work
or if you cannot or do not want to be the sole provider of the milk.

The Drawbacks of Bottlefeeding

The possibility of allergy—Cow's milk formulas contain a
different type of protein than breast milk, and some infants may be
allergic to it or have trouble digesting it. These babies can be
given soy milk formula, although some may be allergic to soy
protein, too, and would require a hydrolyzed formula.

A lot of preparation—Bottlefeeding requires a lot of
organization and preparation; you will need to have enough
formula on hand and have bottles and nipples clean and ready.

A significant expense—In today's economic climate, many foods, including formula can be costly.

Freshness not guaranteed—Formula can go bad, so you will
need to check expiration dates and avoid damaged containers.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.